Guide to Well Engaged: Getting started

This guide will provide you with an overview of our Web conferencing environment and show you how to participate with the browser you're using right now.

Conversation here is asynchronous, which means that discussion is not predicated on each participant being online at the same time. This is not live chat. Instead, conversation occurs over time, with everyone having a chance to read and respond in discussions in their own time and place.

A conversation begins when one participant "posts" a question or idea for discussion. When other members log in, they are given an opportunity to read the idea and post a response to it. Each member's response is added to the end of the discussion in sequence. The resulting series of responses becomes an ongoing conversation — or topic — that reads like the transcript of a conversation. On each visit, you may read and respond in numerous discussion topics, and create additional topics of your own.

Topics are organized within conferences that usually focus on a particular subject or theme, like "books" or "current events." In the Books Conference, for instance, you will find hundreds of topics, with names like "Books on Tape" or "Great Biographies." Conference hosts are responsible for maintaining the discussion area, facilitating conversation, and assisting new participants.

You read and respond in the main conferencing window. At times, such as when you search a conference, change your settings, or view the Profile of a fellow member, a second window or tab will open to display the information. Your main conferencing window remains undisturbed so you will not lose your place in the conversation.

Perhaps the best way to learn is to jump right into a discussion. If you need more help along the way, you can access this online guide at any time by selecting the Help icon in the Toolbar at the bottom of your conferencing window. Members of The WELL often call the Web software "Engaged" for short. You may want to visit the Engaged Conference to ask questions and learn more about the interface.

Here's the list of compatible Web browsers.

INTRODUCTION
Getting started

THE BASICS
Your personal conference list
The Toolbar
Settings
Inside a conference
Reading and responding
Learning more about your fellow WELL members

ADVANCED TOOLS
Hypertext linking
Placemarks
Shortcuts

REFERENCE
Frequently asked questions
Glossary